COTTESLOE, WA/AUS (Friday, July 13, 2012) ? The final event of the 2012 ASP Australasian Longboard Qualifying Series, the “Be Kind, Be Calm, Keep Smiling, Whalebone Classic” will start tomorrow at Iso’s Reef, Cottesloe beach, WA. Over 190 competitors from WA, Australia and around the globe will Walk the Plank and Hang Ten as they strive to etch their name on the famous trophy made from the rib of a whale that washed up on Iso Reef many years ago.

The ASP 3-Star LQS rating for both the Men and Women is attracting a mixture of the world?s best longboard surfers including reigning ASP World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA), who is excited to be returning to defend the title he won at last year’s event.

“It was really cool to win here last year,” Jensen said. “It was my first trip to WA and the water and waves were a lot like California. So that made me feel a bit more comfortable and helped to get me through. From what I hear and see the whole coast has some incredible surf! I just have to get back here for a good swell without a contest and really check it out. The Whalebone Classic is just a really well run event. The organisation and the sponsorship put together something really special every year that keeps you coming back.”

Attending for the first time is New Zealand champion Thomas Kibblewhite who is chasing the points on offer as he strives to qualify for a spot in the 2013 ASP World Longboard Tour.

As well as the ASP pro division there are amateur divisions for all ages and abilities together with lifestyle stalls, surf bands and good times. The name says it all. “Be Kind, Be Calm, Keep Smiling.”

About the Whalebone ClassicThe “Be Kind, Be Calm, Keep Smiling” Whalebone Classic is one of the premier events among the Australian professional longboard community. Staged annually at Iso’s Reef at Cottesloe nearly 200 longboard surfers and their supporters are expected to converge for another gathering of the tribes on July 14th & 15th July2012. Now into its fifteenth year, the Whalebone has always attracted some of the Australia’s best longboarders.
Location: Cottesloe, WA/AUS
Date: Sat 14-Jul-2012 to Sun 15-Jul-2012